1. Project (problem) Based Learning
A collaborative, hands-on way to solve real world problems.
The Brains of
Successful Vs. Unsuccessful
People

2. What is it?
An opportunity in your daily life to solve real world problems. It is:
Collaborative
Hands-on
Working with peers, teachers, parents, experts in your community and around the world.
Asking “Good” questions.
Developing deeper understandings.
Accepting and solving challenges.
Taking action.
Sharing your experience.

3. The Nuts and Bolts A Big Idea (Tackling Plastics-NatGeo challenge)
An Essential (necessary, important) Question
A Challenge
Guiding Questions
Activities
Resources
A Solution
A way to put your plan into action.
A way to judge if your plan worked.
Reflection on the process.
Assessment.
Publishing your results for others to read.

4. Essential Question
You will probably think of many questions, eventually narrowing in on one.
This should reflect your interests and the needs of those around you.

5. I think if I do “this,” the result will be “this.”
The Challenge
Here you are to develop a specific solution that will result in concrete, meaningful action.
I think if I do “this,” the result will be “this.”

6. Guiding Questions, Activities, and Resources
What are some smaller, guiding questions that come to mind?
Now identify evidence (PEDKaP), activities, and resources to answer your smaller, guiding questions from above.

7. Solutions There might be many solutions at first.
Once you choose yours, it should be thoughtful, concrete, clear, and able to be carried out.

8. Implementation
refer to Nat Geo challenge power point

9. Publishing and Sharing
Document each step of the challenge in a journal include these in the portfolio you will create along the way.
All of this information will make your publishing easier.
Without it, you will forget much of what you did.
see Nat. Geo - Team guide and Hand outs

10. Reflection Think about what worked, what didn’t.
Think about what problems you had.
Think about the interactions you had with others.
Think about your learning.

11. Prompts for documenting the process of your PBL: (use for answering journals each week)
What part of the process are you working on this week?
What new knowledge or skills have you acquired this week?
What has been your biggest challenge/success this week?
How is your group doing as a team?
What are your top priorities for next week?
Each group member should choose at least one prompt to answer each week.

12. Reflection-after submission to NatGeo- answer one per category.